Angelonia plant named ‘Ansteel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Angelonia  plant named ‘Ansteel’ characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large purple violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Angelonia angustifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANSTEEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant, botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Ansteel’.

The new Angelonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Angelonia plants with attractive flower coloration and long flowering period.

The new Angelonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2014 in Dresden, Germany of two unnamed proprietary selections of Angelonia angustifolia, not patented. The new Angelonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Angelonia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since the summer of 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Angelonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Angelonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Ansteel’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Ansteel’ as a new and distinct Angelonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large purple violet-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Angelonia differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in plant and flowering habit as plants of the new Angelonia are more freely branching and freely flowering than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Angelonia can be compared to plants of Angelonia hybrida ‘Lolapi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,269. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Angelonia and ‘Lolapi’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Angelonia are taller than plants of         ‘Lolapi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Angelonia and ‘Lolapi’ differ in flower         color as plants of the new Angelonia have purple violet-colored         flowers whereas plants of ‘Lolapi’ have light purple-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Angelonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Angelonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ansteel’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ansteel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and the following observations, measurements and values were grown during the summer and autumn in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Angelonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were at a minimum of 20° C., night temperatures were at a minimum of 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were pinched two times, two and six weeks after planting rooted young plants. Plants were six months old when the description was taken and seven months old when the photograph was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia angustifolia ‘Ansteel’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Angelonia angustifolia, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Angelonia angustifolia, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly             upright plant habit; freely branching habit; when pinched,             about five to seven lateral branches develop per plant;             moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 60 cm to 70 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 40 cm to 50 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 4 cm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 2 cm to 13 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to oblong.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 145D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single flowers arranged in             upright to outward terminal racemes; flowers face mostly             outwardly; freely flowering habit; full dense             inflorescences.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine             to ten weeks after planting rooted young plants; in the             garden, flowering is continuous from mid-May until frost in             Central Europe.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about 20 days on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Globose. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Inflorescence length.—Inflorescences are indeterminate and             continue to grow longer during the flowering season.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm by 3 cm.         -   Flower length.—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five or six in a             single whorl; petals fused at the base into a tubular             throat. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape:             Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire, undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 82B; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 82C; color does not change with development.             Throat: Close to 79A and 155D. Tube: Close to 82C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 147A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Angle: Outward to slightly upright, less than 90° from             vertical. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture:             Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to             155D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic.             Anther color: Close to 90A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Tapering. Stigma             color: Close to 155D. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color:             Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 142B.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color:             Close to 165D.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: About 30 to 50. Length: Less             than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Color: Light brown. -   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Angelonia have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Angelonia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Angelonia have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Angelonia plant named ‘Ansteel’ as illustrated and described. 